I'm currently in the TA signals and am at University in Leeds. However, due to University just being far too much expense for me (e.g rent and the costs associated with it), I'm considering leaving after finishing my first year and moving back up home and joining the army.

The thing is, I want the physical challenge of joining the infantry, or wish to join the armoured corps (my dad was in for 15 years in the 9th/12th Royal Lancers), as I've always wanted to join the army from a young age due to my dad being in, and University and college has delayed this (I was intending on going in after University), but my dad says join and get a trade, as it's (and no insult intended to members of the infantry or armoured corps here) a bit of a waste going in something like the infantry or armoured corps without being an officer if you have A-Levels or a degree.

University just isn't for me either, I'm bloody fed up of academia.

Is my dads advice wise to follow if I do leave uni and go in? I don't wish to end up getting into arguments with my parents if I just disregard the advice either. Is it also wise to even leave University and go in as well?

My dads now a police officer, and I was kind of thinking of joining the RMP as well, seeing as my TA Barb test score was high enough for all services. However, my dads even said 'RMP!? They're definitely not well liked! '

I'm TA Inf and hoping to join the RAC, I'm doing it because my civvie job is going t1ts up. Just beware that your TA unit might not be very cooperative, the careers office have been waiting 2 months for my paperwork to reach them.

It'll be a crap career if you coose something that'll please others and not yourself.

Why not look at some other meaty roles:
Specialist Signals roles
Int Corps (I suspect it's a good job but the sneekie-beekies never tell me)
RA observer role
RLC postal and courier role
RAVC dog handler (Always in the thick of it somewhere)
RAC Recce Regiment, not Main Battle tanks
RLC Ammunition Technician

(OK so there's a red herring in, can you spot it?)

Remember you can always specialse in other roles that are subed down from their original role, and there's always the Airbourne & CDO option.

If it's Infantry, then go for it, but remember you're not always in the thick of it in the 'Stan. A wet Sunday in Colchester is no fun and games.

Why not look at some other meaty roles:
Specialist Signals roles
Int Corps (I suspect it's a good job but the sneekie-beekies never tell me)
RA observer role
RLC postal and courier role
RAVC dog handler (Always in the thick of it somewhere)
RAC Recce Regiment, not Main Battle tanks
RLC Ammunition Technician

(OK so there's a red herring in, can you spot it?)

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Obviously you know as little about the real Army as the guy that asked the question in the first place.

Not all Ammo Techs are bomb doctors, it's only the SNCOs and some Officers so don't join that trade and expect to be cutting red or green wires. You're more likely to be re-stencilling ammo boxes in a bunker somewhere.
Yes RAVC Dog handler, RA Obs and Recce Regt are good roles, but there is only 1 regt of RA observers so you may be disappointed.

Int Corps and Sigs do have some gucci roles but you are more likely to be sat in a HQ looking at a computer screen than anything else.

Whilst FAT CAV is taking the piss if you want to travel and see the world then RLC Postie is a very good trade to be in.

Remember all trades are soldier first and tradesman second so you will get the physical challenge whatever you pick. My advice is to try a different Careers office and go and speak to them, or better still ring a capbadge recruitment team. Don't pay too much heed to advice given on here it's often come from a dodgy source.

Why not look at some other meaty roles:
Specialist Signals roles
Int Corps (I suspect it's a good job but the sneekie-beekies never tell me)
RA observer role
RLC postal and courier role
RAVC dog handler (Always in the thick of it somewhere)
RAC Recce Regiment, not Main Battle tanks
RLC Ammunition Technician

(OK so there's a red herring in, can you spot it?)

Click to expand...

Obviously you know as little about the real Army as the guy that asked the question in the first place.

Not all Ammo Techs are bomb doctors, it's only the SNCOs and some Officers so don't join that trade and expect to be cutting red or green wires. You're more likely to be re-stencilling ammo boxes in a bunker somewhere.
Yes RAVC Dog handler, RA Obs and Recce Regt are good roles, but there is only 1 regt of RA observers so you may be disappointed.

Int Corps and Sigs do have some gucci roles but you are more likely to be sat in a HQ looking at a computer screen than anything else.

Whilst FAT CAV is taking the urine if you want to travel and see the world then RLC Postie is a very good trade to be in.

Remember all trades are soldier first and tradesman second so you will get the physical challenge whatever you pick. My advice is to try a different Careers office and go and speak to them, or better still ring a capbadge recruitment team. Don't pay too much heed to advice given on here it's often come from a dodgy source.

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I'm well aware of what the AT trade entials, and offering advice for a Long term career option is where I was heading. From LCpl to Sgt in the AT trade, Mmm . about 5 years or so. So getting on the IEDD course and deploying to theatre as a number two isn't an end of career arrangement.

Int & Sig roles, maybe looking at screens, but more likely is a bit harsh. I suspect there's plenty of Sig/Int guys & Gals who would say that what they do is pretty full on. The paradox is that you say the RLC postie role is 'A very good trade to be in' with is debatable depending on who you ask. Deploy on every tour, yes, but shuffling sacks and letters, with bouts of inane distance driving etc. is not everyone's cup of tea.

I was genralising and being rather generic, so I apologise if I didn't do a 1000 word hypothesis on each role as regards to if it's going to be exciting or not.
Yes, the Postie role might have been a cheap laugh but I've worked with plenty of Posties and IMHO it's all Horses for courses. Again not my cup of tea.

Shavies

Yes I'm a dodgy source, I'm king Walt and I've done nothing at all. So my last advice. dare I offer any more, Don't bother asking on this website, go elsewhere, as on here, you'll obviously get some tw4t who'll slate someone else's 'advice' for the sake of looking good. If you're TA then use those contacts to seek out info and not seek 'the truth' from a load of bias ex-military, Walts & Civvies who use this site anonymously to big themsleves up.

I'm well aware of what the AT trade entials, and offering advice for a Long term career option is where I was heading. From LCpl to Sgt in the AT trade, Mmm . about 5 years or so. So getting on the IEDD course and deploying to theatre as a number two isn't an end of career arrangement.

Int & Sig roles, maybe looking at screens, but more likely is a bit harsh. I suspect there's plenty of Sig/Int guys & Gals who would say that what they do is pretty full on. The paradox is that you say the RLC postie role is 'A very good trade to be in' with is debatable depending on who you ask. Deploy on every tour, yes, but shuffling sacks and letters, with bouts of inane distance driving etc. is not everyone's cup of tea.

I was genralising and being rather generic, so I apologise if I didn't do a 1000 word hypothesis on each role as regards to if it's going to be exciting or not.
Yes, the Postie role might have been a cheap laugh but I've worked with plenty of Posties and IMHO it's all Horses for courses. Again not my cup of tea.

Shavies

Yes I'm a dodgy source, I'm king Walt and I've done nothing at all. So my last advice. dare I offer any more, Don't bother asking on this website, go elsewhere, as on here, you'll obviously get some tw4t who'll slate someone else's 'advice' for the sake of looking good. If you're TA then use those contacts to seek out info and not seek 'the truth' from a load of bias ex-military, Walts & Civvies who use this site anonymously to big themsleves up.

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Ok I grant you promotion is pretty quick these days as an AT so yes getting on tour in the bomb doctor role is quite good, but this guy isn't even in yet so I wanted him to have the full picture not a rose tinted view. Believe me I'm in know way just trying to score points against you Fat Cav, no matter how much of a walt you are. I stand by my comment that the majority of Int and Sig guys stare at computers in HQs, that is their role. Very few are on the ground, especially signals - that signals role is for the infantry or RAC signallers.

I like you selective quoting of me with regards to being a Postie, I never said it was "a very good trade to be in", I said it was a good trade to be in for travel. If that's not trying to score points I'm don't know what is.

However you are correct, as I previosuly stated, information of here is regularly from people who have no experience of their own. Shavie go to the capbadge recruitment teams or speak to your PSI staff at your TA centre.

stick uni out, become an inf platoon commander and even if you dont you will have something worthwhile to come back to.

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I've got an interest in the RMP because of my dad being a police officer.

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Daddys a police officer so you want to be an army police officer?

what do you know about the job?
what makes you think it's for you?

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You're an oxygen thief for a reason, so why don't you take your tag and lack of knowledge elsewhere and leave the chap alone.
(I'm now off out to the fresh air to replace oxygen wasted by actually making this post)

stick uni out, become an inf platoon commander and even if you dont you will have something worthwhile to come back to.

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Cheers guys,

I'm leaving because of financial worries - I can't afford it. I'd stay into the second year if I could.

I've got an interest in the RMP because of my dad being a police officer.

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You say you're fed up of uni, but would stay another year if you could? Why not defer your course for a year to do a tour; unless you splurged when you got back, you'd have saved up enough cash to finish uni, and would get to do the job that you want to do. Obviously there are some problems with this, but it's an idea.

stick uni out, become an inf platoon commander and even if you dont you will have something worthwhile to come back to.

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Cheers guys,

I'm leaving because of financial worries - I can't afford it. I'd stay into the second year if I could.

I've got an interest in the RMP because of my dad being a police officer.

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You say you're fed up of uni, but would stay another year if you could? Why not defer your course for a year to do a tour; unless you splurged when you got back, you'd have saved up enough cash to finish uni, and would get to do the job that you want to do. Obviously there are some problems with this, but it's an idea.

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Yep, I'm fed up, but if I had the finances I would stick it out even though I'm sick of it.
That's one thing I was thinking of when I first joined the TA, taking a tour with the TA whilst I deferred a year of uni.

stick uni out, become an inf platoon commander and even if you dont you will have something worthwhile to come back to.

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Cheers guys,

I'm leaving because of financial worries - I can't afford it. I'd stay into the second year if I could.

I've got an interest in the RMP because of my dad being a police officer.

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You say you're fed up of uni, but would stay another year if you could? Why not defer your course for a year to do a tour; unless you splurged when you got back, you'd have saved up enough cash to finish uni, and would get to do the job that you want to do. Obviously there are some problems with this, but it's an idea.

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Good point, Crab, if he can do that....!

Shavie, as you have reached university, I would recommend staying there and finishing your degree, unless there are overwhelming issues why you can't.

Pleading poverty won't wash with me because I bet you haven't yet tried to control your expenditure and earn more money.....?

If you leave university in just over 2-3 year's time with a reasonable degree (what is it, BTW?) and some useful time in the TA behind you, you will probably fly through Sandhurst, if that is what you want. If you leave university now, you will probably be able to join the Army but the academic reins will have to wait until you have the time - and that might take several years. If you are good enough - finish the course.

It has occurred to me that lots of people think about joining the Army, but the failure rate is quite high; you might discuss that with your father; this is not a walk in the park!

I think you first have to decide about your academic career - and from your posts, I don't think that you have done that. Then decide on the Service - and then the job!